After a Tuesday-night audition episode from Chicago that played more like an America’s Got Talent gag reel, American Idol got back to the business of finding the nation’s next singing superstar tonight with a tunefully terrific hour of action from Orlando, FL. The good singers (handsome fella belting “Smile,” gorgeous chick trilling “House of the Rising Sun,” just to name two) were very, very good, while the questionable Golden Ticket-getters displayed enough personality to justify the judges’ decisions. And best of all, the “hey, mom! look how annoying I had to be to get on the tee-vee!” freakshows were kept to a merciful minimum. I’m so happy, I decided to write a celebratory ditty to the tune of the CCR/Tina Turner classic “Proud Mary.” Click here for musical accompaniment (if you want to sing along from home), then check back in the early morning for my full TV Watch recap (UPDATE: Click over to read my full Idol Orlando auditions recap now.) Oh, and if you’re looking to waste a little time before bed, check out our gallery of the 15 Best Idol Auditions Ever, as well as my colleague Kate Ward’s post on the Chicago auditioner who once had a recording contract with Jive Records! And, of course, post your thoughts about tonight’s episode in the comments below, after you sign up to follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak.
Eleven damn good auditions
Packed into a one-hour episode
Not even a sad guy dragged off in handcuffs
Could send it all into the ‘ole commode
Big Simon make it happen
Shrill Kara keep on yappin’,
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ onto Hell Week.
Michael, tonight completely converted me to your anti-Kara camp. She was more annoying than ever. I’ve never been so annoyed as I was during her fake beatboxing when she told the guy to sing after inexplicably giving him a yes based on NO SINGING. She’s truly obnoxious. Congratulations on converting a stubborn believer into a Kara-cynic!
Funniest ever was when Simon asked in a dead-pan voice, YES or NO, after they took that nutkabob away in handcuffs!
I screamed when he did that. It was hysterical.
Agreed. Best episode of the season by far! Looking forward to the full recap tomorrow my man M. Slizzle.
I don’t. I mean, I love Slezak, but I can only think of one audition I truly enjoyed the entire night. And that’s being generous. It was pretty painful. And, alarmingly, I thought Kara was a much better judge than Simon this episode, too. Chenoweth was OK, as well.
Agreed. I too love Slezak, but… what? I only heard one person Jermaine, (and maybe one other that I can’t think of right now) that I thought deserved the yellow sheet. The judges were just giving them away tonight. They might as well have turned on some fans and blew them into the hall and let the kids fight it out.
The best part of the episode was when Ryan held up the little kid who had this look of utter disgust on his face. Priceless. They should make that the banner image for AI this year instead of the one they’re using (that shows the bridge jumping gal, Simon, and Kara.)
I would rather listen to Sarah Palin talk than to listen to another beatboxer!
Agreed, The last guy was great!
Loved that last guy who had been in prison. Amazing voice!
Cuase becoming a contestant on a reality show is the way to make restitution and show remorse. Didn’t know that.
The beatboxer and the sisters will not last in my opinion.
How was that the best episode? I found Kristen annoying (even though I usually like her) – maybe it was the way Kara interacted with her. I felt Simon’s pain.
I hope you’re right.
Kristin Chenoweth was a GREAT judge! She must have inspired Kara as Kara actually had some meaningful comments. Sign Kristin up! I like that the guy who sang “Smile” tried out before and didn’t make it and has obviously taken time to improve. Good job. The last guy sang well, and Kara predicted he’d make the Top 12, but I honestly don’t see people voting for a guy who tried to rob a bank, even if he was a “dumb 15 year old kid” and that he spent 4 years behind bars for that mistake. When it gets to the Top 24 and people get to vote, I think the 12 that will move on will be talented without his baggage. We’ll see.
Kristin Chenowith was hardly even there to make any impact or impression. We saw her give what, one meaningful critique? Pointless.
The few comments from her that they aired showed that she was paying attention and had a POV. Much better than Beckham and Blige. They shouldn’t have focused on her having fun with Kara and spent more time showing good singers…but then that’s always the problem with AI in these early rounds.
I thought the jail bird sang okay, but they way the judges reacted to him, you could tell they had been sold on the backstory …aaaaand the heavy pimping was on. I didn’t like him half as much as what they were trying to sell me. I think AI producers are having wet dreams about finding the new superstar for the Great Depression they think we’re going through: “you think you have it bad? this guy went to jail and now he’s a STAH!”
I think it was a disgrace. And judges, we all know you have his info in front of you. Sounded authentic my big hairy heinie.
And I’m NOT trying to be funny or mean, however the young lady with the facial paralysis did not sound all that great. I hate it when the judges let the contestant’s sob stories get in the way of their judgement.
I think it’s veeerrrryyy interesting that we are basically forcefed made-for-tv love over the BankRobber, but in past seasons when a contestant has had a rap sheet or questionable past, they get booted? What up with that?
I guess showing your ta-ta’s (Frenchie) is a bigger crime. Again, disgraceful!!!
The truth finally comes out. Kara and Kristen are really whoo girls! Can’t say I’m surprised.
Go Matt Lawrence!!! Will you marry me? I’ve been on plenty of “adventures,” too, although none as ambitious as yours. Keep singing and don’t flame out.
wtf why did they waste a golden ticket on the guy with the ripped pants i hate when they send terrible singers to hollywood
I think they need a certain number of ‘disposables’, to allow them to keep potentially good (i.e. good ratings) talent.
I’ve enjoyed the past few episodes, judgewise. Can’t wait to see the nuggets of wisdom we get courtesy of Katy Perry, Avril Lavigne, and Joe Jonas. I’m actually very excited for Neil Patrick Harris.
Hey this is off topic but hasn’t anyone told you your home page is broken? Only a portion of it displays in IE8, and I’ve seen this on a couple of PCs.
The dude in the cowboy hat was amazing. He’s got a future in music. I can see him going big in country music. I also liked the black guy they said had a nice smile. Hope he is as skilled as he sold himself to be. And I liked the judging. Kristin Chenowith would be an awesome permanent judge if not for her other show duties. That said, several tickets were not earned, but I liked seeing this lenient side of the judges. Don’t worry. Mr. Nasty will be returning to form in due time. On that you can trust.
I thought that the guy that they dragged off in handcuffs sounded a lot like Dave Pirner from Soul Asylum. That’s not a compliment, by the way.
kara was SMOKIN’ tonite. i honestly don’t get your beef with kara. great episode!
She is annoying to the extreme. She needs to go away.
She’s TOTALLY annoying, phony, and condescending with her sweetie this, and sweetie that.
Yeah. She was. Kara is great. At least she has a point of view unlike what the drugged out Paula brought to the table. Jealous women hate Kara. It’s a shame.
Kristen is nice and bubbly, but she didn’t make much impact on the show, or leave much impression on the audience with her critiques, definitely not as much as Shania did.
What the heck happened to her? She was a bag of bones and was trying waaaay too hard to be Kara’s BFF.